Sado Okesa is a Japanese folk song that originated in Sado Island, Niigata Prefecture

Niigata Prefecture

is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Honshū on the coast of the Sea of Japan. The capital is the city of Niigata. The name "Niigata" literally means "new lagoon".- History :...

.

General

"Okesa' or "Okesabushi" is a style of the Japanese folk songs that is said to have originated in Amakusa City, Kumamoto Prefecture

Kumamoto Prefecture

is a prefecture of Japan located on Kyushu Island. The capital is the city of Kumamoto.- History :Historically the area was called Higo Province; and the province was renamed Kumamoto during the Meiji Restoration. The creation of prefectures was part of the abolition of the feudal system...

. They typically describe the dialog between a man and a woman in love, and were sung there when the seamen drank sake together. These songs were brought to Sado Island by these seamen who worked on the Japan Sea route of sea transportation.

Sado Okesa was sung in various versions in a few villages of Sado Island. During the latter half of the Meiji period

Meiji period

The , also known as the Meiji era, is a Japanese era which extended from September 1868 through July 1912. This period represents the first half of the Empire of Japan.- Meiji Restoration and the emperor :...

, it already was a favorite song of those who worked in the famous gold mines of Aikawa on Sado Island.

This song became nationally famous in 1921 when it was broadcast in All Japan Folk Song Festival. It is now also a favorite Obon

Obón

Obón is a municipality located in the province of Teruel, Aragon, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 75 inhabitants....

 festival dance music for the people in Niigata Prefecture

Niigata Prefecture

is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Honshū on the coast of the Sea of Japan. The capital is the city of Niigata. The name "Niigata" literally means "new lagoon".- History :...

 and its neighboring prefectures.

Lyrics

One of the various versions of the lyrics goes:

• In Japanese

1. 佐渡へ（アリャサ）、佐渡へ～（アリャアリャアリャサ）　佐渡へと草木もなびくよ。（アリャアリャアリャサ）　佐渡は居良いか、住み良いか。（アリャアリャアリャサ）
   
2. 来いと（アリャサ）、来いと～（アリャアリャアリャサ）、来いと言うたとて、行かりょか佐渡へ。（アリャアリャアリャサ）　佐渡は四十九里、波の上～。（アリャアリャアリャサ）
   
3. 佐渡と（アリャサ）、佐渡と～（アリャアリャアリャサ）、佐渡と出雲崎ャ棹さしゃ届くよ。　（アリャアリャアリャサ）、なぜに届かぬ、わが想い（アリャアリャアリャサ）
   
4. ．．．
   

• In Romanized Japanese

1. Sado e (Arya-sa!), Sado e-e (Arya-arya-arya-sa!), Sado e to kusaki mo nabiku yo! (Arya-arya-arya-sa!) Sado wa iyoi ka, (Arya-arya-arya-sa!), sumi yoi ka? (Arya-arya-arya-sa!)
   
2. Koi to (Arya-sa), koi to-o (Arya-arya-arya-sa!), koi to iu ta tote, yukaaryo ka Sado e! (Arya-arya-arya-sa!) Sado wa shijuku ri, nami no ue. (Arya-arya-arya-sa!)
   
3. Sado to-o (Arya-sa), Sado to-o (Arya-arya-arya-sa!), Sado to Izumozak(i)-ya sao sasha todoku yo! (Arya-arya-arya-sa!) Naze ni todokanu, waga omoi? (Arya-arya-arya-sa!)
   
4. ...
   

　

• Translated into English

1. Toward Sado, toward Sado, even the tree leaves and grasses are blown by the wind. Is Sado such a nice place to live?
   
2. To come, to come you tell me, but I cannot go there easily. Sado is away from here 49 ri
   Li (unit)
   The li is a traditional Chinese unit of distance, which has varied considerably over time but now has a standardized length of 500 meters or half a kilometer...
   
   , over the sea waves.
   
3. From Sado, from Sado, I can reach Izumozaki on the mainland by rowing a boat. But why and why cannot I reach your tender heart?
   
4. ...